Conglomerate Known for Unglamorous Industries Becomes a Supplier to Apple

Koch Industries Inc., known for concentrating on such unglamorous industries as oil refining, chemicals and fertilizer, has a new role: supplying electronic parts to Apple Inc.

The Wichita, Kan.-based conglomerate, owned by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, on Monday announced an agreement to pay $7.2 billion, or $38.50 a share, for Molex Inc. On the Nasdaq Stock Market, shares in Molex surged 32% to $38.63 at 4 p.m....